The accuracy of existing prehospital triage tools for injured children in England: an analysis using emergency department data.

Antonella Ardolino, C Ronny Cheung, Thomas Lawrence, Omar Bouamra, Fiona Lecky, Kathleen Berry, Mark Lyttle, Damian Roland, Nadeeja Koralage, Shabara Issa and 3 more

Emergency Medicine Journal · 2014-04-08 · Method & validation

Read at publisher · PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the performance characteristics in children with moderate and minor injuries of prehospital paediatric triage tools currently in use in England for identifying seriously injured children. METHODS: Eight prehospital paediatric triage tools were identified from literature review and a survey of the lead trauma clinicians across the 10 English strategic health authorities. Retrospective clinical data from 2934 patient records collected by four emergency departments were used to analyse each tool. A target sensitivity of >95% and specificity of 50-75% was set based on the literature. RESULTS: Three tools (East Midlands, North West and Northern) demonstrated acceptable sensitivity (all 100%). The other five tools fell below the target sensitivity of >95%. All eight tools had acceptable specificity (with results between 79% and 99%). CONCLUSIONS: Three tools (East Midlands, North West and Northern) demonstrated acceptable over- and under-triage rates in this population of minor and moderately injured children. All tools reached recommended standards for over-triage, but the majority favoured under-triage.

Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal

Tags

Triage instruments · Children

Related articles

• Interobserver reliability and diagnostic accuracy of prehospital triage for identifying traumatic brain injury in paediatric patients: a systematic review. (Childs Nerv Syst, 2024)
• Validation of motor component of Glasgow coma scale in lieu of total Glasgow coma scale as a pediatric trauma field triage tool. (Am J Emerg Med, 2024)
• Accuracy of the American College of Surgeons Minimum Criteria for Full Trauma Team Activation for Children. (Pediatr Emerg Care, 2024)
• Use of prehospital reverse shock index times Glasgow Coma Scale to identify children who require the most immediate trauma care. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 2023)
• Validation of Shock Index Pediatric-Adjusted for children injured in warzones. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 2020)
• Do prehospital criteria optimally assign injured children to the appropriate level of trauma team activation and emergency department disposition at a level I pediatric trauma center? (Pediatr Surg Int, 2014)